Irish trainer Tony Martin is confident that his Gold Cup third Anibale Fly can run with credit in this afternoon’s Randox Health Grand National at Aintree if things fall into place for him at the day.
The JP McManus-owned animal was closing up on the leading pair very pleasingly towards the end of last month’s Gold Cup and shaped like a step up in trip would bring out further improvement from him.
He was winner of the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December before falling in the Gold Cup at the same course.
He told Attheraces: “We think he's fresh and well and I think he's come out of Cheltenham good.
All being well, we'll send him on Thursday. Fingers crossed he'll run a good one and get a bit of luck.”
The eight-year-old is technically 9lb well-in at the handicap off the back of that display at the festival but his trainer is less focused on the weights and more on good fortune.
"No matter what you have in hand, you just hope he avoids bad luck and if he gets his own little bit of luck, he could run a really good race."
"He's a big, strong horse and he carried more weight in Leopardstown when he won at Christmas (Paddy Power Chase).
"Weight shouldn't be a problem. It's all about luck. If he gets good luck and avoids bad luck, that's what we need," he said.
At his age and as a second-season novice, the horse would have traditionally be considered on the young side for a Grand National winner but as the profile of the runners being aimed at the race changes, two of the last three winners of the race have been aged 8.
With his jumping assured, his mark workable, the chances of him staying looking strong, it might only luck that Anibale Fly needs to write his name into the history books this afternoon.
